February 15, 2019
Scientific basis for success
Dear reader
The 15 million users of XING’s app can now meet more easily at events. If two users enable the new ‘Nearby’ feature, the app will show them when the person is in the immediate vicinity. The technology is from Swiss company Uepaa, a spin-off of ETH Zurich.
Pairfect is concerned with closeness of a completely different kind. The app aims to help couples with quizzes, assignments and prompts to save their relationship from a slow death. Some 5,000 couples already use the paid-for app. As unusual as Pairfect at first glance seems to be for a Swiss start-up, this is also about science-based innovation. The basics were developed by a psychology team at the University of Bonn.
Uepaa and Pairfect are not the only science-based start-ups that are currently successful in the marketplace. DEPsys, the technology of which enables utilities to integrate renewable energy into the grid, doubled its number of customers in 2018 and is now active in 10 countries. And its success has also attracted investors: this week, the HEIG-VD spin-off announced the conclusion of a financing round of more than CHF 13 million.
Geneva-based ID Quantique is currently very successful with its encryption technologies. And the security company, which originated from the University of Geneva, has been able to land another high-profile investor with Deutsche Telekom.
The Swiss speciality of building exciting start-ups from cutting-edge research has been duly noted worldwide. The fact that many Swiss founders are on Forbes' most recent ‘30 under 30’ list is thanks mainly to young scientists with start-up projects.
Numerous deep-tech start-ups will again be present at Startup Invest’s Venture Day in Zurich, which takes place on 16 April. Although proven elements such as one-to-one meetings have been retained, some innovations will be introduced. Thus, in addition to the start-ups, investors, supporters and corporate representatives will also be able to pitch.
The series of workshops at EPFL Innovation Park bring young businesses and corporates together, too, and after a successful first implementation a second series will take place in March.
Finally, founders with good ideas are not always successful in the market. A new podcast now brings the experiences of failed entrepreneurs to the fore – much can be learned.
Have a sunny weekend.
Stefan Kyora
Editor in Chief, Startupticker.ch
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The new Swiss Venture Capital Report was published on 26 January. It analyses 304 financing rounds closed in 2020 and includes further article such as an interview with Michael Hengartner, President of the ETH Board, and a list of Swiss "soonicorns". 
